Jonathan Sexton's boot silences roar of Ospreys' returning Lions

Friday 18 September 2009 16.52 EDT
First published on Friday 18 September 2009 16.52 EDT

The gradual return of the British and Irish Lions to bread-and-butter action continues. Both these sides were boosted by the reintroduction of summer tourists. Most notably for the Ospreys there was the welcome return of Lee Byrne at full-back after he injured his foot in South Africa. Tommy Bowe made his first start of the season, as did Leinster's Nathan Hines, while Shane Williams and Alun Wyn Jones eased their way in from the bench, though they could do nothing to prevent the Ospreys' fifth straight Magners defeat by the Heineken Cup winners.

There were still significant absentees from the European champions' ranks, including Brian O'Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Jamie Heaslip and Luke Fitzgerald. For the Ospreys Adam Jones will not be back until Christmas.

The Ospreys were desperate for the services of their bigger guns after being vilified for their previous week's home defeat at the hands of a weakened Ulster. You know things are bad when your fans boo you off the field in your first home game of the season. But the return of Byrne, who produced a thumping try-saving tackle on Jonathan Sexton in the first half, added class and some solidity to the backline.

As well as returning Lions the Ospreys had the former All Black Jerry Collins, who adds trademark strength and venom, and it was he who scored the try from a driven lineout which gave the Ospreys an 8-6 lead. But the bad-boy side of Collins showed up minutes later as he was sin-binned for a retaliatory swipe at the Leinster No8, Sean O'Brien. Two scrums on their line later they were down to 13 with Duncan Jones also yellow-carded.

Yet somehow, despite being down to six men in their pack, there was no penalty try. Instead the Ospreys were awarded a penalty themselves and their two-point lead survived until the half-time whistle.

The Lions trio of Mike Phillips, Williams and Alun Wyn Jones made an appearance midway into the second half of a closely fought encounter. They failed to make an impact and it was a loose pass from Williams that allowed Leinster an attacking position from which Isa Nacewa kicked a drop-goal.

And two more Sexton penalties condemned the Ospreys to their fourth defeat from six at the Liberty Stadium.